ANGELES CITY, Philippines – Despite repeated cleanup drives, efforts to rehabilitate the Abacan River continue to feel like a losing battle.
Volunteers under the Angeleños and BWSI Advocates Clean-Up Action for Nature (ABACAN) Program, including members of the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., were once again seen clearing waste from the river—only to find it replaced by new garbage shortly after.
The source? Residents living along the waterway, whose indifference undermines the work of environmental advocates.
While numerous environmental laws exist to stop the cycle, what’s missing is strict implementation and political resolve.
Will Mayor Jon Lazatin take a firmer stand to turn this tide? The city—and its river—waits.